The Philadelphia Phillies recalled Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber from the injured list on Tuesday, just in time for a showdown with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
They didn’t need them.
Anchored by a Trea Turner grand slam, the Phillies torched Dodgers starter Bobby Miller for nine runs in four innings en route to a 10-1 victory. In the first game of the season between the NL’s two best teams, the Phillies improved on their MLB-best record (59-32) and sent a strong message to their potential future postseason opponent.
Harper (hamstring) and Schwarber (groin) have been sidelined since June 27. activated from the injured list and back to their usual spots in the lineup on Tuesday.
It was a slow night for Harper, who finished 0-for-4 at the plate and didn’t count any runs. His teammates more than made up for his lack of production.
Schwarber hit two runs with a two-out single in the bottom of the second inning to extend the Phillies’ 1-0 lead to 3-0.
He then came in at fourth to set up Turner to open the game. With the bases loaded and no outs in a 4-0 game, Turner threw a Miller slider that hung over the middle of the plate in the left field bleachers for a grand slam.
Three batters later, Bryson Stott sent a solo shot over the right field wall to extend the lead to 9-0.
By the time the fourth inning ended, every Phillies batter had already walked the plate. Philadelphia scored six runs in the inning and Miller’s night was over. He allowed nine earned runs on 10 hits, including two home runs and three walks. He recorded two strikeouts.
From there, the Dodgers managed to get on the board with a solo home run from Cavan Biggio. But that was all the damage done to Phillies starter Zack Wheeler. Shortstop Kiké Hernández was on fire in the seventh inning to spare the Dodgers’ bullpen as the Phillies cruised to victory.
Turner finished the night 3-for-4 at the plate with the grand slam. His was one of three Phillies home runs alongside Stott’s solo shot and a Brandon Marsh solo home run in the seventh.
The only bad news of the night for the Phillies came after Wheeler left the game. He finished after six innings and a season-low pitch count of 76, apparently due to the crushing nature of the game. But the Phillies revealed midgame that Wheeler felt tightness in his back on the mound.
His long-term status was not immediately clear, but his scheduled date for Philadelphia’s first half against the Oakland A’s on Sunday was certainly in jeopardy.
The Phillies and Dodgers are scheduled to play the second of their three-game series on Wednesday night.
